The translation and preliminary study of hundreds of priceless ancient manuscripts that have recently been discovered in an Essene library in Palestine and a Gnostic library in Egypt, has already revealed to startled and still secretive Biblical scholars – but not yet to the working clerics and the laity of the Christian church – a new Jesus; an impressive personality of greater mental stature, deeper wisdom and wider experience than has hitherto been claimed by his worshippers or suspected by his critics...

It is a different Jesus who now emerges from behind the quaint legends and contradictory oral traditions of the disciples from the “cloud that receiveth him out of their sight.” He is no longer the Christ created by their credulity and transformed into one more typical “virgin-born and bodily-resurrected” pagan deity by the creed-manufacturing theologians of succeeding centuries.

On the other hand, neither is the new Jesus the uneducated faith healer and miracle worker of Galilee, alleged by materialistic, rationalist critics to have spoken only colloquial Aramaic; to have written only on the ground with his finger; and to have been quite ignorant of the Greek paideia (i.e., education and belief systems) and the Roman civilization of his time. The new Jesus, appearing at last out of the various “clouds of unknowing,” is surprising even those who have long hoped for the “Second Coming of the Son of Man.”

Surprisingly, the new Jesus was not always somber; he could be humorous and whimsical. If someone tried to trick him in an argument – which happened quite often at first – he adopted a humble pose and deftly led them on until they were caught in their own trap. It is reasonable to believe that Jesus enjoyed this, and at the same time was compassionate. He was not always tranquil; sometimes his invective was rather terrible. As has often been noted, he was particularly harsh on the Pharisees. (See Matt. 23:1-36.)

There is certain boldness in the teachings of Jesus. One senses a powerful personality, an independent mind, and an intense spirit. For example, his teachings on religion:

“Religion can be summed up in two principles: Love God sincerely and other people as much as you love yourself.”

Or again on prayer:

“Do not make long prayers asking God for foolish things. He knows what is good for you better than you do, and He needs no prompting to keep Him interested. When you pray, try to understand what God wants from you; it is much more important than what you want from God.”

Careful study of the Essene Scrolls from the caves by the Dead Sea – confirmed by the Egyptian Gnostic codices from Nag-Hammadi – reveals Jesus to have not only been well-versed in the knowledge and cultures of Egypt, Ethiopia, Persia, India, Greece and Rome, a wide traveler and a great teacher, but also an original, independent thinker; a dedicated existential empiricist – in the midst of absolutionists – ever deliberately seeking new truth by observation and experimentation, even unto death.

Finally, it must be said that Biblical scholars have always had to accept the possibility that at the time of Jesus there was no city called “Nazareth.” They have resisted this possibility, it is true, and sometimes quite vigorously, but it definitely remains, as you may discover yourself by reference to the King James Version of the Bible or a standard Bible dictionary. The city called “Nazareth” is not mentioned in the entire Old Testament or the Talmud. This is an argument from silence, but it is not negligible...

Of far greater weight, however, is the silence of the great Jewish historian Josephus (ca. 37-95 AD). For besides being a widely traveled writer who never missed anything and who described voluminously all that he saw, Josephus never mentions the city of Nazareth in his writings...

(There is, however, an ancient city named “Nazeret” in the East African country of Ethiopia, about forty miles south of the capital city of Addis Ababa.)

“Religion can be summed up,” said Jesus, “in two principles: Love God sincerely and other people as much as you love yourself.” Or again on prayer: “Do not make long prayers,” he says, “asking God for foolish things. He knows what is good for you better than you do, and He needs no prompting to keep Him interested. When you pray, try to understand what God wants from you; it is much more important than what you want from God.”

Knowledge of Him may be new to us, but Jesus is the same yesterday, 2day and always...(hebrews)

l will say that this is a very interesting topic *props*

As far as the issue of him being "bodily-ressurected" as you know it is highest response of the Christian faith and the highlight mark of the Bible, throughout.

Aqil, if you believe God formed the body from dust, then why is the physical ressurection so hard for you to fathom?
Why would it be impossible for God to ressurect the body??

l believe he was taken up in the clouds as was written, but Christ gave them their mission on the earth, not in the sky (Matthew 28:18-20).
Jesus's "intense spirit", "independent mind" and "powerful personality" impacted all frames of minds to some highest degree, like no other... (also his miracles).

the things you say are not "new" thoughts or "new" perspectives about Jesus anyway. We know of Jesus's tactical and often humorous dialogues with the Pharisees. That's not new.
those who doubt the 2nd coming is definitely not new- the Saducees in the bible did that.
None of the ideologies that you have mentioned are new.

l would agree that Jesus was well-versed in other cultures only b/c my faith is that He is God in the flesh... but that is another topic.

l haven't studied Nazareth, but l believe there's some knowledge to be found.

l may disagree on most of the things you've said, but l think this is a great topic

According to the the bible, Jesus was part of no sect or religious or moral elite; thus, in Isaiah 9:6 it is given to our enlightenment just who he was, and an Essene was not one.
Isaiah 9:6 says "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace....

if l were to go on, he is the Living Water, the Messiah, Alpha & Omega, Beginning & Ending, Lord of Lord King of Kings.....

Aqil, l have a dead sea scrolls book and trust, there's nothing outstanding.

Jesus, as the bible illuminates, was saviour of all men, that would include the Essenes themselves.